Window regulator mechanism



W. L. KRAEMER WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Filed Dec. 22, 1952 z May 221, 1935.

Patented May 21, 1935 UNITED STATI-:s

PATENT oFFicE WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Waldo L. Kraemer, Brooklyn, N, Y., assignor to Kearfott Engineering Company, Inc., a corporation of New York Application December` 22, 1932, Serial No. @18,359 l 2 claims.` (o1. 26a- 130) ulator.` "I'hese desirable features include a posi` tive acting mechanism,l a large mechanical advantage, as the window panes used'in the windows of ships often weigh as much asfthree hundred 15 pounds, a low efliciency to avoid overhauling and insure that the window pane will remain in the position it is left by the operator, a` high speed ratio between the operating `handle and thel Window pane so that the windowpane-maybe quickly raised and lowered, anda construction which is comparatively simple and inexpensive. i vA regulator mechanism which is used `extensively in windows built lforlships, for example, and which is satisfactory vin respect to many of the desirable features, is that shown in my prior Window frame is connected through gears andi 35 shafts to the threaded shaft.' Rotation of the handle is thus transformed into rotation of the screw shaft and since the nut' on the shaft is restrained from rotational movementV it, travels longitudinally of the shaft, moving the window- 40 pane in the window-pane guideways. `Such a regulator has a low speed ratio between theA window-pane and the operating handle, and the necessity for accurate alignment of the screw shaft Awith respect to thefside members ofthe window frame renders the construction somewhat difficult and expensive.

By my present invention, I amenabled to con#` struct a positive actingwindowregulator mechanism for Windows of the type mentioned,v which embodies all of the above mentionelddesirable features, name1Y,` a high mechanicalfadvantage, an emciency such that there is no overhauling,

simplicity of construction and `a high speed ratio` between the operating handle and the window` 55;A pane.l In accordance with my invention; I con- PatentNo. 1,695,691 granted December 18, 1928 frame and depends therefrom to the lower crossstruct a regulator mechanismby utilizing differential "circular drive members in commotion with a flexible motion transmitting member. The

Vdifferential 'drive membersand the flexible motion transmitting member are in operative en- 5 gagement so that rotation of the drive members is transformed into motion 'of the flexible motion transmitting member. This latter member is connected to the window-pane and actuates the window-pane in theV window-pane guideways. V

The differential drive members provide a mechanical advantage such that the heaviest of window-panes are readily and easily moved in the guideways and the eiciency is such that there is no overhauling. Theexibility of VtheV motion transmitting member which connects the drive members to the window-pane eliminates any necessity `for a delicacyor accuracy of alignment in the regulator mechanism andthus provides a construction'which is comparatively inexpensive 20 to manufacture; the proportionsV of the members provide-a high speedratio; and the arrangement constitutesV a positive acting mechanism.

Specifically, a regulatorconstructedl in accordancevvith` my invention is adapted for use in 25 conjunction with a window construction including a window frame, window-pane guideways and a Window-pane mounted in the window-pane guideways. The window regulating mechanism includes a waist rail which is mounted transversely of the `window frame at approximately the longitudinal centerfthereof. This waist rail is provided at the center thereof with a housing in which there isjournaled a shaft, transverse to the plane of the window frame. On the shaft, a sprocket is 'mounted and secured` to the shaft for Arotation therewith.,` A second sprocket of slightly different diameter is also mounted on the shaft for rotation with respect to the shaft. To this second sprocket there is secured an annular 40 gear which through an idler pinion meshes with a spur gear secured to the shafts. A manually operative crank handle is provided for rotating the shaft from the outside of the frame and upon rotation of the shaft, one of the sprockets rotates with the `shaft andthe other rotates in a direction relatively reversedxto the direction of rotation of the shaft. Over the upper portion of thesesprockets there is draped an endless chain, the chain` being suspended on each side of the longitudinal axes of the sprockets and forming two loops,V In one of theseloops, there is an idler sprocket engaging the chain. This idler sprocket is mounted'in a saddle which is secured to a bracket that is connected to the lower edge of the window-pane. An idler pulley mounted in a saddle engages the other loop in the endless chain. On the lower cross member of the frame there is mounted, in a stationary bracket, another idler pulley. A flexible member, such as a piece of chain, is connected between the bracket on which the idler sprocket is mounted and saddle carrying the idler pulley engaging aloop in the endless chain. This exible member also engages the pulley secured to the lower cross member of the frame and thus tensions the endless chain. As the drive sprockets are rotated, the loops formed by the endlesslchain moyelongitudinally of the frame member, that is, towards and away from the drive sprockets. The differential arrangement of the sprockets provides a large mechanical advantage. Through the connection to the window-pane, movement of the endless chain in this manner is transformed into. movement of the window-pane in the guideways.

The efliciency of the transmitting or regulating.

mechanism is such that the window-pane will not overhaul and the speed ratio between the drive sprockets and the window-pane is comparatively high.

A more clear understanding of my invention will be had from the following particular description of one embodiment thereof which is shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of awindow including a regulator of my invention;v

Fig. 2 is a side, sectional elevation of the same taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional elevation through the waist rail; Y

Fig. 4 isan enlarged, fragmentary, sectional plan taken on the line 4--4of Fig. 3; and

Fig. `5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional end elevation taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

The window construction illustrated in the drawing is one that isfv particularly suitable for a ship. It is, however, understood that the particular application of the window on which the regulating mechanism is used is quite immaterial, the type of window construction illustrated being chosen for its simplicity. In the window construction illustrated, there .is a frame having an upper cross member Ia,side members Ib and I c,

and a lower cross member Id. The frame mem-` bers are angular in cross section, the frame having an outwardly extending circumambient flange 2 which is utilized for bolting the window frame to the side of a ship. The windowframe is substantially twice as'longas the window opening therethrough which opening is defined by the upper cross piece la of the frame member, a portion of each of the two sides Ib and Ic thereof and a waist rail 3 which is mounted at substantially the longitudinal center of the window frame.

vThe particular waist rail illustrated is of a special construction as it includes a housing 4 at the transverse center thereof. This housing is cast integral with the Waist rail and is provided with a removable cover-plate 5. The rear wall of the housing and the cover plate are bored to `form a journal for a shaft 6. The shaft has a Ehollow squared forward end which is adapted toreceive the squared end of an operating crank handle I for manually rotating the shaft. -Adjacent its front end, the shaft is provided with a iiange 6a. to which a sprocket 8 is secured by means of machine screws 9. Immediately behind this sprocket there is mounted another sprocket z Il) which is spaced'fromthe first sprocket by an elongated hub I Ba. This second sprocket is rotatably mounted upon the shaft for rotation with respect to the shaft. An annular gear Il is secured to the sprocket I0 and engages an idler pinion I2 which is rotatably mounted upon a stub shaft I3 supported in the rear wall of the housing. The idler pinion I2 meshes with a spur gear I4 secured on the shaft 6 for rotation therewith. With this construction, it will be apparent that when the shaft 5 is rotated manually through the crank handle, one of the sprockets 8 is rotated with the shaft and the other sprocket I0 is rotated in a direction relatively reversed to the direction of rotation of the shaft. The two sprockets are slightly d iiferent in diameter and vform a pair of dilerential drive members.

Engaging each of the differential drive members or sprockets there is an endless ilexible chain I5. The chain is draped over the upper `half of the two sprockets so that there are two suspended ends, one on either Vside of the longitudinal axes of the sprockets and each end forming a loop. In one of these loops there is an idler sprocket I6 engaging the endless chain. The idler sprocket is mounted in a bifurcated bracket or saddle vIl having a round extension or stud I'ial thereon. The saddle is connected to a bracket I8 through the extension Ila, the free end lof which is threaded and extends through an opening in a lateral ange I8a formed on a bracket I8. The stud extending from the saddle is rotatably mounted in the bracket I8 so that it may rotate about an axis perpendicular to the axis ofthe idler sprocket. To this bracket I8 there is also secured a clamp 'I9 which receives and rmly grips the lower edge of the windowpane 2l). In the other loop formed by the endless chain, there is an idlerpulley 2l which is also mounted in a bifurcated bracket or saddle 22.

The two saddles I'I and 22 are connected, together by a flexible chain 23, the ends of which are connected one to each of the saddles. This latter chain engages, intermediate its ends, an

idler pulley 24 which is rotatably mounted between the arms of a bifurcated bracket 25 secured to the lower cross member Id of the window frame. With this construction the endless chain I5 is maintained under slight tension and upward movement of one side of the chain is transmitted as a downward force on the other side of the chain so that the chain is at all times held under slight tension and there can not be any slack, the looped ends of the chain following a definite 'path of operation.

From the above description of the regulator mechanism illustrated it will be apparent that as `the shaft 6, on which the drive sprockets 8 and opposite direction will cause downward movement of the idler sprocket, or rather upward movement of the idler pulley which through the flexible connecting chain 23 will draw the idler sprocket downwardly and consequently open the window. It is to be noted that by virtue of this connectingY chain 23, the idler sprocket and bracket I8 is connected to the drive sprockets through positive acting mechanisms.

The mechanical advantage resulting from this differential drive is such that a three hundred pound window-pane is readily and easily moved in the window-pane guideways. 'Ihe efficiency, however, is such that the window-pane will remain in any position in which it is left. The regulator is positive in its action which is necessary in case of the window-pane becoming stuck in the closed or any other position. The speed ratio between the crank handle 1 and the bracket I8 is comparatively high so that the window-pane may be rapidly opened and closed.

It is obvious that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art in the details of the embodiment shown in the drawing and described immediately above within the principle and scope of my invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a window construction having a frame and a Window-pane slidably mounted in the frame, a regulator for the window-pane comprising a waist rail mounted at substantially the longitudinal center of the frame, a pair of differential circular drive members rotatably mounted on the waist rail, an endles iiexible motion-transmitting member engaging the drive members on the upper side thereof and forming two depending loops, an idler engaging the motion-transmitting member at each of said loops, another idler rotatably mounted on the lower cross member of the frame, a tension member connected between the idlers engaging the motion-transmitting member and engaging the idler mounted on the lower cross member, a connector for connecting the motion-transmitting member to the Windowfpane, and means for rotating the drive members to move the window-pane.

2. In a window construction'having a frame and a window-pane slidably mounted in the frame, a regulator for the window-pane comprising a Waist rail mounted at substantially the longitudinal center of the frame, a shaft rotatably supported by the Waist rail, a sprocket secured to the shaft, another sprocket rotatably mounted on the shaft and connected thereto for rotation in relatively reverse direction to the movement of the shaft, the two sprockets forming a pair of differential drive Wheels, an endless chain engaging the sprockets on the upper side thereof and forming two depending loops, one on each side of the axis of the shaft, an idler sprocket engaging the chain in one-of said loops, an idler pulley engaging the chain in the other of said loops, a pulley rotatably` mounted on the lower cross member of the frame, a flexible member secured to said idler sprocket and pulley and engaging the pulley mounted on the cross member of the frame, a connector for connecting the motion-transmitting member to the window-pane, and means for rotating the shaft mounted on the Waist rail to move the window-pane.

WALDO L. KRAENIER. 

